Not Sure About The Front End

You'll need to describe your feelings or the symptoms more clearly David.

 

even a feckd front tyre can cause this.

 

Even tyre pressures can cause this

 

The OEM fork springs in my bike were replaced with progressive srpings from Hyperpro. The progressive springs give better bump absorption over uneven roads - plenty of them in the UK!

As others have said, more information regarding the symptoms & the conditions under which they occur would be useful. Ditto what others have said regarding tyres & tyre pressures as a potential starter.

 

I dont think in 32 yrs of riding bikes ive ever had head race bearings fail. I dont wheelie.

 

a dealer/specialist could confirm years but certainly mid 90's to at least 2003 Ducati used an 'inferior' ballbearing and cage set up on headstock as standard which if corroded or slightly worn can produce noises even at an early stage (yet still pass an MOT). It's written up elsewhere on this Forum and others in more detail. If it does turn out to be this a conventional taper roller conversion kit is readily available if necessary certainly for the more common models.

 

ive always been under the vague impression that progressive springs can cause this very problem.
unsure where ive read it in the past but im sure that theres another form of spring(linear ?) thats better at controlling the uneveness and outright bumps etc at speed/reaction speed to such.
might be worth googling on the idea or saying that, theres some clever lads in here,one of thems bound to know.
probably wrong,age makes a unreliable fog of many memories im afraid.

 

Know what you mean about age clouding the grey matter! I checked with a Ducati service centre before changing the fork springs, as I'd heard conflicting information.

The progressive springs were recommended by Nelly of Cornerspeed. He's rated by many as one of the best Ducati technicians in the UK, he really knows his stuff. The springs work very well & also help with improved front end stability under braking on the roads. They are designed for road use.

 

Do you still have a phantom on the front, if so theres a lot of your oddness right there.

Otherwise pressures as others have stated.

 

No idea about that tyre but the phantom was the most confidence sapping and nervous feeling tyre I've ever had fitted to any bike, when I put Angel GT's on it was almost like having a new bike.

I would however get a matching set rather than just replace one.

 

Ditching the phantoms helped with mine too. Also changed the fork springs and oil which further improved either the bike or my head Either way more confidence in the front

 

Put the bike on the sidestand and pull it over to lift the front wheel off the deck. Move the bars slowly from lock to lock to feel for any notchiness. If you've got a mate handy, give the forks a wiggle to see if there's any play at all, and you may as well do the same to the front wheel to check the wheel bearing.

If all feels fine it's definitely your tyre. Or your rear shock...